Preparations underway to file charges against Rabi Lamichhane for 3 offenses

KATHMANDU: The President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rabi Lamichhane, is set to face charges in three serious offenses.

The Kaski District Police Office is preparing to proceed with cases related to cooperative fraud, organized crime, and money laundering.

According to a source from the police headquarters, after receiving the investigation report from the cooperative investigation committee, the police will file charges at the district level.

The investigation process against Lamichhane has accelerated since his resignation as Home Minister.

Previously, the investigation had been delayed during his time in office. After a parliamentary committee submitted its report, the investigation gained momentum once again.

Kaski police officials have stated that it will take a few days to finalize the report needed to file charges. The process to file a money laundering case with the Department of Money Laundering Investigation is also underway.

Several other current and former directors of the cooperative have already been brought under legal scrutiny.

However, due to Lamichhane’s tenure as Home Minister, the investigation against him was stalled for a long time.

The cooperative investigation committee has recommended that legal action be taken not only against former Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane but also against former DIG Chhabilal Joshi, Kumar Ramtel, and GB Rai.

According to the committee’s findings, they are accused of misappropriating funds belonging to cooperative depositors. After the committee submitted its report to Parliament, the Speaker directed the government to implement the recommendations. The cabinet has also decided to forward the report to the Ministry of Home Affairs for immediate implementation.

The Home Ministry has already sent the report to police headquarters, which will now distribute it to the relevant police offices to initiate the process of filing charges.

The report alleges that GB Rai diverted cooperative funds to Gorkha Media Network, where Rabi Lamichhane also held a position.

It further states that Lamichhane personally issued checks and misused the cooperative’s funds.